Former Modified Champ Choquette Dies

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Jack Choquette, who captured the 1954 national championship in the NASCAR Modified Division, passed away last week and has been laid to rest in Florida.

Choquette, originally from Montclair, New Jersey, made a name for himself in the racing ranks after relocating to Florida where he drove to the 1953 NASCAR Southeast regional title and followed that with the NASCAR Modified Division national championship in 1954.

In that 1954 title campaign Choquette outdistanced fellow New Jersey native Tommy Elliott by 421 points in the national standings.

Choquette also made six combined starts in what is now known as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 1955-56, highlighted by a runner-up finish in his series debut at his home track – Palm Beach Speedway – to Tim Flock on Feb. 6, 1955. He competed twice on the famed beach and road course in Daytona Beach.

Choquette passed away on Feb. 23 and was laid to rest on March 2 in Royal Palm Beach. He is survived by three sons, a daughter, 17 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

One of his grandsons, Jeff Choquette, is a part-time NASCAR Camping World Truck series competitor who also drives Super Late Models in the southeast.